This is a comprehensive list of ethnic groups in Nigeria and their various states. Nigeria is known to be home of various tribes that come together as one to make up the country. If you want to find out about these groups in the country and their languages then, you are at the right place.
There are three major ethnic groups in the country, namely Igbo, Hausa and Yoruba. Others that do not generally fall into one of the aforementioned major groups are called the minority. In this article, we will intimate you on Nigerian peoples and cultures which constitute the various states that make up our federation.
List of Nigerian Tribes and Their States
1. Igbo
Abia, Anambra, Benue, Delta, Ebonyi, Enugu, Imo, Rivers and Cross River.
2. Hausa
Bauchi, Borno , Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Taraba, Sokoto, etc.
3. Fulani
Bauchi, Borno, Jigawa, Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Kebbi, Niger, Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe etc.
4. Yoruba
Edo, Ekiti, Kogi, Kwara, Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Osun and Oyo.
5. Ijaw
Bayelsa, Edo, Delta, Ondo, Akwa Ibom and Rivers
6. Tiv
Benue, Plateau and Taraba.
7. Idoma
Benue, Nassarawa, Cross River, Kogi State and Taraba.
8. Adamawa
Bachama, Banso, Batta, Baya, Bilei, Bille, Botlere, Bwatiye, Bwazza, Daba, Daka, Palli, Ga’anda, Gira, Gizigz, Gombi, Gude, Gudu, Gwa (Gurawa), Gwamba, Holma, Hona, Ichen, Jibu, Jirai, Kaka, Kambu, Kilba, Kurdul, Lakka, Lala, Ubbo, Mambilla, Matakarn, Mbol, Mbula, Muchaila, Mundang, Njayi, Pire, Sukur, Teme, Tigon, Tur, Vemgo, Verre, Wagga, Wula, Wurbo, Yungur.
9. Adamawa and Borno
Kanakuru (Dera), Margi (Marghi), Ngweshe and Bura/Babur.
The Bura or Babur people can also be found in Taraba and Yobe. Also, the Shuwa people are found in Kaduna and Yobe in addition to Adamawa and Borno.
10. Akwa Ibom
Eket, Anang, Ibeno, Ibibio, Okobo (Okkobor), Orton, Andoni (The Andoni people can also be found in Rivers State).
11. Bauchi
Bambora (Bambarawa), Banka (Bankalawa), Bara (Barawa), Barke, Bele (Buli, Belewa), Boma (Bomawa, Burmano), Bomboro, Buli, Burak, Buta (Butawa), Chama (Chamawa Fitilai), Chamo, Dadiya, Daza (Dere, Derewa), Deno (Denawa), Ouguri, Duma (Dumawa), Galambi, Geji, Gera (Gere, Gerawa), Geruma (Gerumawa), Gingwak, Guildford (Gubawa), Gururntum, Gym, Jaku, Jara (Jaar Jarawa Jarawa-Dutse), Jimbin (Jimbinawa), Kamo, Kariya, Kirfi (Kirfawa), Kubi (Kubawa), Kudachano (Kudawa), Kushi, Kwami (Kwom), Miya (Miyawa), Ningi (Ningawa), Pa’a (Pa’awa Afawa), Pero, Polchi Habe, Rebina (Rebinawa), Sanga, Segidi (Sigidawa), Siri (Sirawa), Tula, Waja, Warwick, Zaranda, Zayam (Zeam), Zul (Zulawa).
12. Bauchi and Plateau
Jere (Jare, Jera, Jera, Jerawa), Kwanka (Kwankwa), Limono. The Karekare and Bole are found in Bauchi and Yobe. The Jukun are found in Bauchi, Benue, Taraba and Plateau. The Tera are found in Bauchi and Borno. The Angas are found in Bauchi, Jigawa and Plateau. The Saya are Bauchi, Kaduna and Plateau
13. Cross River
Adim, Adun, Agbo, Akaju-Ndem (Akajuk) ,
Anyima, Bachere, Bahumono, Bekwarra, Bette, Boki (Nki), Efik, Ejagham, Ekajuk, Ekoi, Etung, Ododop, Abayon, Ikom, lyala (lyalla), Mbube, Nkim, Nkum, Olulumo, Qua, Ukelle, Uyanga, Yache, Yakurr (Yako), Mbembe. Mbembe are also found in Enugu
14. Delta
Ika, Isoko, lsekiri (Itsekiri), Ukwani (Kwale) and Urhobo.
What a abt kanuri
Thank u mr Maduawuchi Obialo for this piece of work don on ethnic groups in Nigeria and there states .Though mine is an observation about the Panso, which u spelled as Banso. Well, the Panso people are not only found in Adamawa state but also Taraba state, they are the third lagest ethnic group in Sarduana LGA of taraba state. So please sir, in your next update, the name of the ethnic group should be spelled as PANSO and not BANSO. Please Taraba state should be among the states the ethnic group can be officially found. Thanks once again for a job well done sir.
WHAT ABT IGBO
i am very happy being i have an access with this browser
Very insightful education on the various ethnic groups in Nigeria.
Am a Ghanaian but just wanted to know more about the Nigerian states and ethnic groups settings though my history as a Ghanaian, we were told that our ethnic tribe (GA predominantly the capital city where most of our Ghanaian boxers dwell) migrated from ilefey(I don’t know if my spelling is right though) in Nigeria and my middle name is Yemo and want to know if we are igbos, Yurobas or hausa people?
I once also traveled to Yamoussuokro in Cote d’lvoire with my university for West African games my days in school and came across some number of Africans imerge at the same place.
But I must admit Nigerians arrived in late and on arrival the whole place turned green because of their outfit, they were many than any other country contingents.
I realized some few things; I don’t know why you guys hate on each other so much, full of misunderstanding and always feel so superior over other African natives.
Anyways that was by the way.
I would like to know where the name YEMI people are from in Nigeria because I met couple of people my the name Yemi during our stay in Yamoussoukro.
Yemi is a name from the Yoruba ethnic group in Nigeria. Yoruba tribe are located in the south western geopolitical zone of the country and their states include: Lagos, Ogun, Osun, Ondo, Ekiti and parts of Kwara state
What about Gombe state
I thought akwa ibom is under igbo
At all. They are under the south south region of Nigeria